Rack for drying brfck



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. DENNIS.

RACK FOR DRYING BRIGK.

No. 415,407. Patented Nov. 19, 1889.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. DENNIS.

RACK FOR DRYING BRICK. No. 415,407. Patented Nov. 19, 1889..

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NITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES DENNIS, OF NElVIN .lrTON, CONNECIICUT.

RACK FOR DRYING BRICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,407, dated November 19, 1889.

Application filed February 14, 1889. Serial No. 299,810. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES DENNIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newington, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Racks for Drying Brick, of which the following is a specification.

My invention. relates to improvements in covered racks for drying brick; and the object of my invention is to provide cheap, efficient, and convenient means for hanging and operating the shutters for the spaces between the racks.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of two adjoining racks and their shutters on line a a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of two racks. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the connectingstringers,witl1 an elevation showing the broad side of a portion of one row of racks. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional corresponding with Fig. 1, but on an enlarged scale, and showing also the levers for operating the shutters. Fig. 5 is a plan View on a still larger scale, showing one of the hinges and connected portions; and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same, the roof portion being shown in section.

A A designate drying-racks, a series of which are arranged side by side in rows of any desired length and with an unroofed space for admitting sunlight between the several rows of racks. At the top of these racks, and extending transversely to their length, I arrange at regular intervals horizontal supports or stringers 7, upon which,immediately over each rack, I place the permanent roofs B, which extend lengthwise with the racks. The racks as thus far described are of a well-known and ordinary construction, and my invention may be applied to any known racks for drying brick which are provided with roof-like structures and are arranged in rows side by side. I provide these racks with hinged shutters C, which I hang by means of a peculiar hinge 8 to the several roofs B, so that the shutters may be turned back beyond a perpendicular position upon the roof or down upon the stringers between the roofs, both of make the shutters of such width relatively to the space or alley-way between the racks that when two adjoining shutters are turned down upon the stringers between two racks, as shown in the middle portion of Figs. 1 and 2, said shutters will substantially fill the space between such racks. Only one length of shut ters is shown in Figs. 1 and 2; but in practice they will extend through the whole extent of the racks with their ends coming as closely together as may be conveniently done without having them interfere with each other in operating them.

The construction of the hinge is most clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the same consisting of a T-hinge with the T or broad flat leaf 9 secured to the roof and the strap-leaf 10 secured to the shutter. and preferably bolted thereto. Instead of a plain straight strapleaf I use an angular leaf, (see Fig. 6,) whereby a short portion near the pintle extends at substantially a right angle to the body of the strap-leaf, so that when the shutter is turned down, as shown in Fig. 6, its inner edge may be dropped below and come under the eaves of the roof B, as therein shown. At the point where each hinge is placed a notch or recess a is cut in the lower edge of the roof for the short arm of the angular strap-leaf to enter, so that the pintle of the hinge may be located a short distance above the lower edge of the roof, as shown.

Upon each of the'shutters, and preferably by the edges of the middle cleat 11, I secure a staple '12 to receive the end of the operating-lever 13, Fig. 4, in throwing up or shutting down the covers. In pleasant weather the shutters will generally all be turned back upon the roof, as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 4, the front side of Fig. 3, and at the right and left of Figs. 1 and 2.

\Vhenever it is desired to protect the contents of the racks from storm, the operator takes the lever 13, the tip of which is rounded on one side, and enters the tip into the staple 12 with the rounding side facing the shutter, as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 4. The lower end of the lever is then depressed to swing the shutter on its hinges, the tip of the lever remaining firmly in the socket until the shutter passes beyond a vertical position, as indicated by the broken lines in said Fig. 4,

when, the inner face being rounded, the lever slips within the socket, substantially as if pivoted to the inner edge of the socket, and gradually works out of the socket as the cover descends, so that when the shutter reaches a horizontal position the lever is in the position represented on the right-hand side of Fig. 4, and thus the operator is enabled to easily withdraw the lever and at the same time to push upward on the shutter as it descends to prevent it from striking the stringers with a shock. The other shutters are shut down in like manner one after the other.

In order to raise the shutters from their horizontal position and throw them back beyond a perpendicular position upon the roof, the lever is placed in the position represented at the right-hand side of Fig. 4 and the shutter pushed upward, the upper end gradually working into the socket '12 as the shutter reaches a perpendicular position, in'passing beyond which the lever may be used to prevent a shock as the shntt'er'strikes the roof, the operation being exactly the reverse of that of closing down the shutters. By thus hanging the covers and providing them with operating devices herein described the covers are always in their proper place and may be very conveniently opened or closed, one after the other in quick succession, and'brought into proper position.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a series of racks for drying brick, arranged in rows with unroofed spaces for admitting sunlight, the permanent roofs B immediately over the several rows of racks,.the stringers or horizontal supports over said spaces between said racks, and a series of shutters hinged to said roofs, substantially as described, to turn down upon said horizontal supports and back beyond a perpendicular, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

2. In a cover for a series of racks for drying brick, the combination of theroof B, shutter 0, the hinges '8, provided with one fiat leaf and one angular leaf, said roof being notched or recessed at its'lower edge to receive said angle-leaf, the hinge being secured to the roof with its pintle a short distance above said lower edgepsubstantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

" JAMES DENNIS.

Witnesses:

JAM s SHEPARD, J onN EDWARDS, Jr. 

